Happy New Year! Happy 2023. What a year 2022 was! For me, it was a survival year – it was basically the twins’ first year of life and me trying to navigate motherhood with 4 kids. Roma turned 3, Luca turned 5, and the twins turned 1!

I published my fourth cookbook with Feeding Littles which became a New York Times best-seller! It was a beautiful year with your typical ups and downs.

It was the year we finally found reliable babysitters so Lu and I could focus on date nights, which I’m so grateful we did. Our marriage strengthened because of it.

It was a year, however, filled with a lot of hesitance over my work.

The future of Inspiralized

Over the holidays, I really thought a lot about how I want to continue on with this brand and my life in general. How did I reflect? JOURNALING. I had never tried it before, but I had so much going on in my mind, it was so helpful (and therapeutic!) to start writing. Once I started, it all spilled out.

I’ve been in limbo for about 2 years (basically during my twin pregnancy and the first 15 months of their lives) and now I’m ready to make a decision on how I want to move forward. I think over the years, I stopped blogging as much and stopped sharing as much about my life. There were trolls, sure, but the landscape of blogging and the life of an online social media person changed. It got a bit more vicious, a bit more calculated, and less organic. There are rules and games and algorithms. I fell out of love with it.

However, I still had this community that I’ve built (or that we’ve built together) that I kept going back to. I love this community so much – you’ve been such a support to me over the years, and I love connecting with you all. Over on Instagram, most of you said you’re here now for the lifestyle content. The least popular content request was recipes! Thinking a lot about that, I’ve realized that that’s just a reflection of my own life. I’m cooking less new things as a mother of 4 young kiddos. I cook from my cookbooks, the blog, and I really like grabbing inspiration from other recipe spots – magazines, my friends’ cookbooks, and other blogs.

So what I’ve decided is this: it’s time to go back to basics and get back to sharing the raw process with this community. Connecting with you and sharing what I’m going through, instead of spending so much time  and energy on new recipes, I’m going to focus more on the content that you want and that I want to share. That includes:

• Fitness
• Fashion
• Kid activities
• Parenting/mom life/hacks/real life moments
• Balancing it all
• Marriage
• Easy family recipes

Now, I’m not going to become a full blown lifestyle blogger, but as for the recipes part, if I’m so inclined, I will definitely be sharing new, original recipes made by me. However, I am going to focus on sharing recipes I’ve found that I’ve made my own changes on and have enjoyed. For instance, I’m dying to try a seafood version of this Lemony Chicken and Potatoes with Feta. You can watch me go through those trials on Instagram, always.

If you don’t like this new direction, I completely understand. Honestly, I can’t keep trying to share the things I *think* this audience wants, because it doesn’t reflect what I’m going through, and I think I lost touch of what the community wanted! So, I’m going to give this a year and if it’s still not sparking my joy, I’ll reevaluate. Thank you for being along for the journey, as always!

My 2023 Mindset

There’s something special about a brand new year. Now, a new year can start whenever you want – there’s no better time than the present. However there’s something refreshing about a calendar new year! It’s the little push you need to start a new goal, intention, or mindset.

For me, in 2023, I want to be a better, more focused and intentional version of myself.

Now, after reading James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, I know that it’s not enough to just say “I want to be a better version of myself.” You have to put the mechanisms in place to form those habits. And the best way to figure out the better version of Ali is to ask, “What does a better Ali look like?”

A better Ali is:

• A better friend, sister, and daughter.
• A better wife.
• A better mother.
• A better entrepreneur.

I’m going to do another blog post on breaking these down further (ie: what does a better wife look like?), but after thinking about it further, I broke this down into words. Words that I’ve written out in bold, big letters and pinned to the cork board that’s adjacent to my computer so I stare at them every day and internalize. Below are the words to apply to different parts of my life that in turn, will help me become a better friend, sister, daughter, wife, mother, and entrepreneur and ultimately, a better me!

• Life: DECLUTTER
• Business: EXECUTE
• Kids/parenting: INTENTIONAL
• Marriage: AFFECTIONATE
• Friendship/Relationships: SUPPORT

For example, the overarching word for my life this year is to declutter and simplify. This permeates everything in my every day. But I think that by decluttering and simplifying, it will be easier to accomplish the behaviors and habits I want to adopt in the different areas of my life.

I hope this is inspiring for some of you. I’ll be doing many more follow up posts to this! Cheers to a year that’s hopefully better and bigger than the last! 

Photos by Karla Korn Photography.

The post A New Year, A Better Me – My 2023 Mindset appeared first on Inspiralized.

The official description of the book from the back cover is below, but in short – this is a cookbook with recipes written by me, approved by Feeding Littles! Throughout the book, there are tips from the Feeding Littles experts on the recipes (nutritional pointers from Megan, an RDN and occupational therapy-driven pointers from Judy Delaware, the other half of the dynamic duo, an occupational therapist!) With all three of us, we’ve truly created a one stop shop cookbook for your family – from ages 6 months and beyond!

The idea is that each recipe is written to be fed to a 6 month old to a grandparent! In the back of the book, there are plated images for every recipe on how to serve it properly (and safely) to a baby under 1. Speaking of photos, Evan Sung masterfully captured all of our family-friendly recipes in this book (he’s been my photographer since the first Inspiralized cookbook!)

Most importantly, you can preorder the book (all preorder bonuses will be sent to you once we launch them, later this year!)

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Indiebound

Some of my favorite recipes from the book include:

~ Cranberry Greek Yogurt Scones with Orange Zest
~ Cheesy Cheeseless Hamburger Pasta
~ Dairy-Free Creamy Potato and Sausage Soup
~ Sheetpan Chicken & Veggie Quesadillas
~ Zucchini and Quinoa Lasagna
~ Baked Beef Stew with Parsnips
~ Sweet Potato Fajita Quinoa Bowls
~ Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole
~ Zucchini Lamb Meatballs with Orzo and Feta
~ Tuna, Broccoli, and Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
~ Air Fryer Sweet Potato and Black Bean Taquitos (my family is photographed eating this!)
~ Salmon Fish Sticks with Mustard Sauce

I can’t wait to hear what you think about the cover! And thank you in advance for all of your support! I love making food for my family, and I’m proud to share that enthusiasm with all of your families.

About Feeding Littles & Beyond

An inspirational, accessible family cookbook that offers everything a parent needs to bring joy and love back into the kitchen, by the baby and toddler feeding experts behind Feeding Littles and the New York Times bestselling cookbook author of Inspiralized.

When it was time to introduce solids to her firstborn, Ali Maffucci didn’t want to make baby food from scratch or buy expensive premade purées. Enter baby-led weaning (or baby-led feeding)—and Megan McNamee and Judy Delaware, the dietitian/occupational therapist duo behind preeminent parenting resource Feeding Littles—which skips spoon-feeding altogether so babies can eat what the family eats. As babies feed themselves, they explore a variety of aromas, shapes, and colors while developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and healthy eating habits. McNamee and Delaware also help their clients navigate—or prevent—picky eating at all ages and raise a generation of intuitive eaters who listen to their bodies and love a variety of food.

Now, these powerhouse authors unite to provide a plan that will reduce stress and anxiety around mealtimes, nourish your loved ones, and satisfy everyone’s palate with fun, easy, nutritious recipes. Maffucci, Delaware, and McNamee offer:

• strategies for baby-led weaning/feeding, as well as safety and other common parental concerns
• how to meal-prep in a way that works for your schedule
• tips for dealing with challenges such as picky eaters and dining out
• a one-of-a-kind visual index for plating food that babies can feed to themselves
• 100+ delicious recipes in categories including Morning Fuel (with plenty of egg-free options), Less Is More (using five ingredients or less), and Mostly Homemade (no shame in using pantry staples!)
• modifications for families with allergies
• positive food language and how to promote body positivity
• and much more

With this book in hand, mealtimes will be easier and more enjoyable for everyone—from your six-month-old, to your picky toddler, to the other kids and adults in the family. As parents, the authors know that getting food on the table is hard enough, so whether you’re making a five-minute grilled cheese or rainbow waffles, it’s time to start celebrating every bite.

Preorder the cookbook

Thank you in advance for all of your support – we can’t wait for this cookbook to arrive at your doorstep!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Indiebound

The post Feeding Littles & Beyond: The Cover Is Here! appeared first on Inspiralized.

My Favorite Restaurants and Cafes in Jersey City

Last updated: July 16, 2021 // Click here for a printable version of this list.

I was chatting with a friend about Jersey City the other day and she asked me how long I’ve lived here. I had to stop, think, and get out my counting fingers. I couldn’t believe it, but I’ve lived here for 8 years. Before Jersey City, I lived in Hoboken, which is the city right above Jersey City, so I’ve lived in this general area for over a decade. Needless to say, I have my list of favorite spots to frequent for food and drinks.

Now, this list is by no means exhaustive and is purely a reflection of my personal tastes in establishments and the fact that I’m a mother of 2 and don’t get much time to go out sans the kids. Most importantly, it’s a reflection of where I live in Jersey City (Jersey City is a geographically expansive city and I haven’t dined enough outside of downtown to recommend places otherwise.) You’re totally getting an Ali list, so if you feel that you have similar taste as mine, you’ll love these places!

Also, there are so many places that are opening up monthly that I haven’t had a chance to visit (especially since having children, I tend to go to the same places for conveniences’ sake.) Definitely don’t NOT go somewhere because I haven’t listed it here, I just probably haven’t had a chance to dine there or it’s not within my personal taste! Do your own research and discover this amazing, eclectic city that I’m proud to have lived for 8 years and am raising my family in.

Restaurants

Here are my go-to restaurants in Jersey City, by category:

Family-friendly/American Food

• White Star Bar (Warren St) – the Warren St location is the best, it’s very family-friendly, has cute outdoor seating and is in a quiet part of Paulus Hook. Love their shrimp wrap and the veggie burgers.
• Lobster Shack – this is the sister restaurant to Light Horse Tavern, it’s in this adorable parking garage extension of Light Horse and they serve summer fare, like burgers, lobsters, slaw, etc. I love everything there – and they have drinks (wine and beer!)
• Buddy’s JC – we’re big breakfast burrito people and this place has a top 3 breakfast burrito! They’re known for their sugary, inventive pancakes (they’ve been on Food Network!), so they’re certainly kid-friendly.
• Kitchen Step – the food isn’t fantastic, but it’s reliable, the breakfast burrito is good, and it has a really cute, romantic outdoor dining area.
• South House JC – amazing ambiance, great for big groups and parties (it has a fun downstairs bar with games!), and they have good big salads. It’s mainly BBQ food.
• Beechwood Cafe – a classic Mom spot, it’s got a great breakfast and lunch menu, pretty reliable for the classics.
• Hamilton Inn – our favorite original restaurant, it has a great outdoor space with picnic tables, but also a nice inside restaurant with classic fare and it’s very family-friendly.
• Hamilton Pork – this is Lu’s favorite restaurant, he loves the breakfast burrito, we do takeout a lot from here (they have classic BBQ with a Mexican flare), the Jalapeño-Cheddar Cornbread is AMAZING, the tacos are decent, the frozen drinks are yummy, and they are kid-friendly.

Latin-Inspired Fare (Mexican and Latin/South American)

• Taqueria Downtown – if you’re a vegetarian, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a healthy, filling meal here, but if you’re not, you’re going to love it! They have the most authentic Mexican food in town (that I’ve tried) and the margaritas are strong. It’s a no-frills kind of place, just authentic food right at the end of Grove St.
• Orale – we love the food here, the yucca fries are amazing, and they are family-friendly (the restaurant is big inside and has a festive ambiance.) The enchiladas are yummy and the lettuce-wrapped tuna tacos are so yummy (the spicy crispy jicama pieces on top are so good!)
• Tamborim– this recently opened up on Newark Ave (the main restaurant row) and we were blown away. The vegetarian stew was life-changing and the drinks are amazing. If you’re looking for a flavorful, festive meal with great ambiance, go here.
• Gringo’s – family-friendly, festive, with a very inventive Mexican menu (definitely more American-skewed with things like Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos – which are amazing!) They have this “Pack a Phat Bowl” that’s the biggest taco salad you’ll ever have and it’s amazing. Lobster tacos are yummy, too – with a little guac on top.

Continental Food, International, and Eclectic

• Satis Bistro – this has prime real estate, right on the most picturesque corner of Paulus Hook and it’s very European-chic. The food has been inconsistent lately, but it has always been a favorite of ours. The wine list is great and they often have divine specials. It’s definitely a date night spot and not exactly kid-friendly.
• Bistro La Source – a French-inspired restaurant with a large seating area, I love this for summer date nights. They have an extensive menu, a great vegetarian platter, and the appetizers are great (the octopus!)
• Uncle Momo’s – a Lebanese/French restaurant right in the center of Grove St, it’s definitely a restaurant with great people watching. It has an oven that cooks fresh pita and while the seating isn’t super comfortable outside, it’s quaint. I love the Chicken Tajine and the hummus is divine.
• Cellar 335 – one of our favorite places when we’re looking for a festive night out, Cellar 335 is up in “the village” part of Jersey City (closer to 78 highway), but you feel like you could be anywhere else – the atmosphere and decor is so fun, the drinks are as festive as they get (they do theme weeks during the holidays!) and I’ve always had an exciting meal with extra flavorful food (the Avocado Fried Rice!!)
• Frankie – this is an Australian bar and eatery, but I don’t love much on the menu (their fries are great and their veggie burger is pretty good) so I mainly come here because it’s very cute (indoors and outdoors) and the bar is fun to sit at. It’s very family friendly.
• Rumi Turkish Grill – I’ve never actually sat here and eaten, but we order takeout from here often. It has great falafel, a great lentil soup, delicious hummus, and Lu loves the kabobs. If we want something on the healthier side but still hearty and filling, we’ll order Rumi (and we do, often!)

Italian/Pizza

• John’s Pizza – classic NY-style pizza with other classic American-Italian fare. They have an outdoor space that’s great during the summertime and is in a little cute nook of Paulus Hook.
• Tino’s Pizza – this is a recent open and we love their pizzas, they’re a bit artisanal and we’re obsessed with the White Pizza. They have chicken bites Lu loves and their meatballs are good, too – definitely a little on the heavier side, but solid.
• Porta Jersey City – if you want a lively bar and pizza experience, go here! They often have live music, nighttimes are lit (do people still say that?!), and their pizza is actually good. They have a few salads, too, that are a great addition.
• Pasta Dal Cuore – very great for pasta and Italian fare. The ambiance is meh and the location is a bit random, but the food is solid.
• Roman Nose – our favorite “overall” Italian spot in Jersey City. Fun fact: the owner is from Rome but moved to NJ and went to high school with Lu! There’s a lot of Italian influence here, which makes the menu legit and I’ve always been amazed by the quality of food. Their pizzas are awesome, too (some of my favorite) – I’m obsessed with the Eggplant Parmesan here and the brunch is even better – the frittatas are freshly made and so fluffy. And great for people watching and family friendly!
• Razza – when I first moved to Jersey City, we always went here for “cool” (aka artisanal) pizza. Then, it made some “Best NYC Pizza” list and now unless you go there at 4:30pm to get on line, you can’t get in! Crazy! Sometimes you’ll get lucky and snag a table, but it’s a hot spot! Great pizza, obviously.
• Luna – this has an Italian-inspired menu, but it has lots of new-American on the menu. Some of their dishes are some of our favs, like the Che Pizza (Detroit-style pizza) or the Chicken Stew. Lu loves the Chicken Milanese. We always have a great meal, but it’s on the heavier side.

Sushi and Thai

• DOMODOMO– if you want real sushi and sake in a cool, hip spot, go here. The sushi quality is top-notch and it’s definitely an authentic sushi experience, especially if you sit at the bar! Get the cauliflower as an appetizer/side! It’s our go-to sushi date night and it’s right next to Ample Hills for a little ice cream afterwards.
• Honshu – if we’re doing sushi takeout, we get it from Honshu (only because DOMODOMO doesn’t deliver!) It’s your classic reliable sushi joint.
• Sky Thai – for Thai takeout every once in a while, this is our go-to. I like their vegetable stir fries with brown rice, pretty classic.

Quick and Casual

• Ibby’s Falafel – I’m a big fan of falafel and places where I can grab vegetarian food – this fits that bill but it’s a no-frills place.
• Sweet Green – a huge salad chain, you can’t beat the freshness of Sweet Green!
• CAVA – a Mediterranean salad/bowl kind of place, we love getting the kids the falafel kids platters, but also love their salads and grain bowls.

Bars

• Dullboy – if you’re feeling hipster and want to grab a drink and some bites, check out this bar. It’s unassuming from the outside but cool on the inside.
• Rooftop at Exchange Place – for a swanky night out, it doesn’t get better than this bar because of the views, but it’s pricey and super touristy. If you’re with a group, it’s great, but not exactly a date spot or spot for 2.
• Hudson Hall – unless you want a pretzel, I don’t recommend the food here, but the ambiance is great and nice and spacious for larger gatherings or watching sports.
• Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden – love it here, the outdoor space is great, service is friendly, and the bar food is actually somewhat decent!
• Pet Shop – a hipster bar that actually has some pretty good food.
• Surf City – Lu loves this place. It’s right on the water in the Jersey City marina and has great views. The food is not good, so I’d never eat there (it’s just fried food!) and the drinks aren’t special (but for wine and beer or simple spirits drinks it’s fine.) It’s basically the closets thing you’ll get in Jersey to a beach bar, haha – it’s literally on sand!

Cafes

• One Two Cup Cafe – we go here every Sunday morning for bagel sandwiches! The muffins are great, too.
• SAM AM Cafe – the cutest, most neighborhood-y spot, ever. Love their Blushing Palmer (a berry Arnold Palmer), but they have so much more than breakfast food – their chopped salads, veggie sandwiches, and more are hits with our family. The wait on the weekends is foreverrr and the indoor dining space is tiny, but the outdoor area is great!
• B18 – one of our favorite little cafes, it has a full menu and everything is surprisingly delicious! I love their Burrito Bowl and the kids love their quesadillas and Lu goes for a Chicken Club (the menu has good variety.) Their baked goods never disappoint, either.
• Short Grain – a great place to grab breakfast, a quick lunch, or a beverage, this cafe has minimal seating inside and outside, but they make great bowl meals and quick bites. I love their Curried Chicken Bowls, pancakes, and spring rolls.
• Lackawanna Coffee – a hipster coffee spot that’s great for working from home but also has a larger outdoor space for warmer months to hang and enjoy an iced coffee.
• Choc-O-Pain – I have a special spot in my heart for this local French bakery chain. They’re just so French and cute – the baked goods (if you get them fresh before they sell out!) are great and they make some great iced teas and other beverages. They sell fresh breads, too.
• Wonder Bagels – there’s always a line out the door in the mornings for a reason – these are classic NJ bagels (aka the best bagels) – and if you have time to wait on line or you can order in advance and run in, they’re the best! Just strictly a bagel and coffee kind of place (they have omelets and things, but it’s all about the bagels.)
• 2nd St Bakery – if you want a legit Italian sub, go here.
• Semicolon Cafe – I used to live in the building next door, so we got coffee and breakfast sandwiches often here! The coffee is great, the breakfast sandwiches are surprisingly amazing, and they have good baked goods, too.
• Prato Bakery – great little sandwiches, baked goods, with a nicer decor than average bakeries.
• Madeline’s – great sandwiches and baked goods, but also good coffee. I had a few New Moms group meetups here and the service was always friendly.

Other & Notable Mentions

• Battello – this is a gorgeous restaurant right on the Hudson River (hello, views!), but I’ve always had bad food experiences here, so I’ll only go for a drink!
• Skinner’s Loft – great vegan food, surprisingly, but not somewhere I opt to dine otherwise.
• Mathews Food and Drink – great drinks and there are a couple food items here we like, but it’s not family-friendly (they don’t have high chairs!) so we rarely go.
• Würstbar – if you like bratwursts (ha!), you’ll love it here – they’re actually really delicious. And the beer list is obviously amazing. It’s just not somewhere I’ll go often, but if we have friends in town and we want something different, we’ll go here.
• City Diner – just a classic diner! I’ve spent many 2am nights here (pre-kids, of course) drinking smoothies and eating fries.
• Mantra – I don’t have much experience ordering Indian food in Jersey City (which is a shame, because it’s apparently some of the best!) but we have eaten here a few times with good luck.
• Light Horse Tavern – The bar is grand and great for a date night drink and meal, but I don’t love the food. I hate that I’m hating on it, because it’s an institution and a true Paulus Hook staple! But it’s a beautiful spot and it’s little casual spot next door (see Lobster Shack above) is great.

Places I Want to Try (Recommended)

These are restaurants that my Jersey City friends swear by (and they have good taste!), but I haven’t tried yet but they’re “approved.”

• Left Bank Burger
• Hudson Hound
• The Boil
• Tacoria
• Franklin Social
• Dolma
• Departed Souls Brewery
• Rustique Pizza
• Dames Cafe

That’s my list! I’d love to hear some must-visit spots on your list for when we get a sitter and can explore more!

The post My Favorite Restaurants and Cafes in Jersey City appeared first on Inspiralized.

2021 Father’s Day Gift Guide

These recommendations are based off of what I think my husband and father would personally like and what they already have that they love. There are so many adorable customizable gifts, golf gifts, cooking gifts, etc, but these are just some of the ones specifically that I’d love to buy (and have bought) for the dads in my life!

1 // Tie Dye Polo Button Down: for the stylish dad, I love the colors and the fit isn’t too blousy (Lu tried this on in the store!)

2 // Sonos Roam Portable Speaker: we love Sonos music quality, and this Roam speaker is perfect for summertime outdoor hangs and picnics in the park.

3 // Apple Airtags: for the husband in your life that is always asking you where his keys are, get these!

4 // Gucci Sunglasses: these are classic and Lu loves them! I got them for him for Christmas last year and they have such a sharp look.

5 // Comfy lounge shorts: upgrade his lounge look!

6 // Coravin Wine Preserver: for those Dads that love wine and just want a glass but don’t want to “ruin” a bottle, this is the best gift.

7 // Camo Mug: my husband considers his coffee to-go mugs part of his “look,” so this one is quite cool.

8 // Pizza Oven : everyone and their mother is talking about this pizza oven, so if your husband/father cooks (my father and my husband don’t cook – well, my dad grills at least!), get this! It’s also portable, so cool.

9 // YETI Cooler : It’s beach and picnic season – anything outdoors calls for a quality YETI, and I love this one because it can fit wine, beer, and all the kids snacks.

The post 2021 Father’s Day Gift Guide appeared first on Inspiralized.

This list was last updated May 12, 2021.

Beauty (Skincare, Hair and Makeup)

• Skincare
  • Exfoliating cleanser
  • Daily cleanser
  • Daily moisturizer
  • Daily SPF moisturizer (I use this during the sunnier times of year)
  • Undereye cream
  • Night cream

• Makeup
  • Brow pencil
  • Brow gel
  • Concealer (color in Medium with warm undertones)
  • Bronzer (color in Surf)
  • Blush stick (color in Bare)
  • Mascara
• Lip balm
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Flat-iron
• Curling iron

Health & Wellness

• Protein powder
• Protein bar

Clothing & Accessories

• Every day jeans
• Black every day jeans
• White jeans
• Jean shorts
• Non-underwire bra
• Everyday wire bra
• Lingerie bra 
• Sports bra
• Strapless bra
• Breast tape to go braless
• Thongs
• Cloth masks
• Disposable masks
• Camisole top 
• Everyday tank top
• White sneakers
• Every day sandals
• Running shoes
• Underwear
• Swimsuits
• Sunglasses (affordable)
• Sweatpants
• Leggings for lounging/light exercise
• Leggings for workouts
• Comfortable walking shoes

Home & Kitchen

• All kitchen favorites can be found here

Kids

• Feeding utensils and tools

Maternity & Postpartum

For a list of newborn favorites, reference this list.

• Leggings
• Joggers
• Jeans
• T-shirt
• Tank top
• BINTO Prenatal vitamins (use code INSPIRALIZED for a discount!)
• Belly cream
• Belly oil
• Nursing bra
• Nursing tanks
• Pregnancy pillow
• Honest Nipple Butter
• FridaBaby Mom Washer
• Gel soothies (nipple relief)
• Breast pump
• Travel breast pump
• Handheld breast pump
• Bottles
• Haakaa Pump

I hope these lists help you find something you’ve been searching for! Again, the list will be constantly updated.

The post The Big List of Favorites appeared first on Inspiralized.

We tried to include an accessible price range in mind, while giving ideas for those who like to splurge (or have the resources to splurge!) around the holidays. We made a conscious effort to include Black owned businesses and women operated or owned businesses, as well. There are so many other great gift ideas out there, but these are some that resonated with us! From cozy slippers to cocktail enthusiast accessories, there’s something on there for everyone this holiday season.

Spread some holiday cheer – and remember, it’s the thought that counts, so don’t stress and just gift with love.

The Inspiralized Holiday Gift Guide for 2020

Here are our separate gift guides (click on each to be taken to a separate page with the full list!)

Gifts for Her

A little bit of cozy, a little bit of indulgence, there’s everything on this list for her – including a few personal items I’m asking Santa for!

Gifts for Him

Men are tough. They’re more minimalist than women (well, some of them – haha!) and it can be tough to find a quality gift, but we’ve done it!

Gifts for Toddlers

There were so many gifts we wanted to include on this list, but we really focused on the most open-ended and quality gifts we could find, with the main inspiration coming from Ali and her kids!

Gifts Under $50

Whether you’re picking a gift for a virtual white elephant, filling stockings, have a smaller budget this year, or just want a fun gift for someone special, we have it all.

Happy Holidays!

The post Our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Inspiralized.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Him 2020

1. A quality beanie: A quality beanie to elevate his winter look.
2. Wine Simple: I don’t know about you, but I’d love a husband who knew his away around a wine list. Also a great gift for a woman, too – but I secretly want it for Lu, so it’s on the “for him” list!
3. Clean white sneakers: I love this sustainable brand and Lu owns sneakers from them and they’re so comfortable.
4. Coravin Wine Preservation System: For him or her, my sister has this and swears by it – if you just want a glass of wine, you don’t need to be worried about “wasting” a bottle. Coravin allows you to have a glass and not let any air get in the bottle, so you can enjoy it in the future.
5. Golf ball ice molds: For the golf and cocktail enthusiast!
6. Cozy sweats: Lu’s favorite sweatpants – he owns 3 pairs!
7. Bombas Calf Socks: Lu exclusively wears Bombas and he loves the calf socks, especially in the winter time.
8. SONOS Move Speaker: Lu’s favorite thing in our apartment – our Sonos Move. It comes with an easy to grab handle to move it around your home.
9. Gold and black bracelet: For the men who like a little jewelry swag.
10. Coffee table book: This will end up in our future home, but putting it on this list for now.
11. LARQ water bottle: For the guy who works from home and needs to hydrate better, a self cleaning purifying water bottle.
12. Clase Azul Tequila: This is our favorite tequila and a special treat. Pair it with the golf ice molds for a hole in one gift

Click here for the rest of our 2020 holiday gift guide (including For Her, Under $50 and for Toddlers!)

The post Holiday Gift Ideas for Him 2020 appeared first on Inspiralized.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Her 2020

1. Canon Photo Printer: Especially for the mama out there that wants to print photos of her kids, but can’t get to the store to order and pickup.
2. Bombas Quarter Socks: For the woman in your life that loves wearing booties but can never find the perfect sock – these are them!
3. Phone charging tassel keychain: A cute way to always have your phone charged!
4. A real nice beanie: I feel like I buy 3 beanies a year and they collect and they pill and they never quite keep their shape. This brand has great quality and this seems like a beanie that will last.
5. Velour hoodie: Yes, Velour is back – and I LOVE the colors these hoodies come in. Plus, I have multiple items from SKIMS and love them. I also love the body positivity and lack of Photoshopping in the SKIMS models.
6. Bookend Woman: For the bookworm in your life, keep her bookshelf cute and support a female, Black owned business with this bookend.
7. CUYANA Small Structured Tote: I love supporting women owned businesses and CUYANA is always my go-to, especially for leather goods. This structured small tote is the perfect sized bag for quick errands and trips!
8. Cute velvet puffer jacket: I own this and love it – it’s equal parts functional and fashionable!
9. Brimmed wool hat: A gorgeous hat, perfect for any occasion and a truly special piece. Owned by a Black female Parsons design graduate.
10. Akola DIY Rainbow Necklace Kit: Gorgeous and colorful DIY beaded kit made in East Africa.
11. Waffle Pajama Tops
12. Waffle Pajama Bottoms: A cozy set for the woman in your life that deserves to be treated well.
13. TUSHY Bidet Attachment: The ultimate self care product.
14. The Home Edit Book: We all have anxious energy we need to get out, why not make it productive!
15. Saint Laurent white sneakers: If you’re really looking for a standout gift, this is on my list this year.
16. Slipper boot: A multi functional slipper, great for quick errands or to wear at home for extra foot support.

Click here for the rest of our 2020 holiday gift guide (including For Men, Under $50 and for Toddlers!)

The post Holiday Gift Ideas for Her 2020 appeared first on Inspiralized.

Once I heard these words and truly understood their meaning, my life changed. My world flipped upside down: I was part of the racist problem in our country. I let racism persevere by not taking actions to fight it in the past.

Angela Davis is right. It’s not enough. We have to actively fight racism, not just say, “I’m not a racist!” (that’s not helping any Black person.) If we don’t fight, we’re saying we don’t care enough about Black lives to stand up for them and fight to end racism.

Needless to say, this week was a reckoning for me, becoming aware of my own contribution (and those close around me) to the oppression of Black people. I became aware of my own inaction, my own lack of awareness, and I had to really look at how my white privilege has formed my life and the lives of everyone around me. I unlearned A LOT. And learned about concepts like microaggressions and implicit biases.

Fully understanding white privilege and systemic racism (this video helped a lot) was the turning point for me, which I learned a couple days into the #AmplifyMelanatedVoices muted week on Instagram, an effort put together by Jessica Wilson and Alishia McCullough to mute our feeds from our own content (not create or share any of our own content,) and instead, share the content of Black voices and creators,.

The creators of this brief movement encouraged everyone who took part to then, at the end of the muted week, look back and see how your world changed, your perspectives, your views, and your understanding of your place and the BIPOC person’s place in this world.

And frankly, this was a much needed week. One of my largest takeaways of this is how unimportant my feed was – both my own feed and many of the accounts I was following. Even as I type this, I’m aware that I’m starting this post all about me, further supporting this white centric framework. But, this is, after all, a place you come because you trust my opinion and I feel a moral obligation to explain myself so that perhaps you can learn from all of this too.

At the end of the day, Black voices have not been heard, respected, or empowered for centuries. Enough is enough, and while I haven’t been there for my Black community in the past the way I should have been, I am here now.

What next?

I truly took this muted week (June 1-7) to educate myself, listen to Black voices, and unlearn centuries of racist principles that I didn’t even realize were engrained in me, my friends, and loved ones. Over the past week, I had extremely uncomfortable and difficult conversations with those closest to me.

And I will continue to have those conversations, no matter how hard they are, because no degree of discomfort compares to what the Black community lives with. Aside from having those conversations, there are ways I plan on helping the Black community and fighting racism moving forward, on, and most importantly, off the screen.

1. Continue to educate myself. Now that I’m following anti-racist activists and voices, my feed is more purposeful, informative, and no longer will I turn a blind eye. Accounts such as Black Visions Collective, Check Your Privilege, Layla Saad and Rachel Cargle are helping me understand how Black people have been and are oppressed and how to end it. This is a great list of resources to start with. I’ve always subscribed to many newsletters and added several podcast episodes to my playlist to listen to on runs, while cooking, and anytime I have the time to consume content, I want it to be intentional and purposeful.
2. Watch movies and shows that address and inform on racism. So far, I’ve watched Just Mercy and The 13th, and just from those two films, I’ve learned so much and felt so much. I’m looking forward to continuing this and replacing some of the mindless shows I watch to “escape,” because the BIPOC community doesn’t have the privilege to escape.
3. Donate. The first thing I did was donate. What I’ve learned is that this system has favored white people and allowed us to thrive and flourish. How could we not donate to fight racism, when we’ve benefited off a system that oppresses Black people? While I’ve already donated to several organizations, I have setup recurring donation payments to the NAACP, The Loveland Foundation, and Black Girls Code, organizations dedicated to fighting racial injustice and empowering the Black community. This way, I know no matter what, I’m making a difference, even during tough times in my life when I haven’t prioritized this fight.
4. Support Black business owners. During the muted week, I discovered so many amazing Black owned brands, such as The Jungalow and Home by Be. Moving forward, I want to actively find Black owned brands to support, knowing that purchasing their products and subscribing to their mailing lists makes a big difference.
5. Follow and subscribe to anti-racist and social equality organizations to find new ways to help and get involved. It can feel overwhelming, “Where do I start, where do I put my energies?” and I think the way to combat this is by subscribing to the organizations and foundations dedicated to fighting racism to literally have ways to fight racism delivered to your Inbox or in your feed. This will be a constant reminder for me.
6. Follow Fridays. One of the best ways I can support Black creators in my space is by featuring their work. Therefore, every Friday, I’m going to start a “Follow Friday” feature, where I share one of the creators that has inspired me recently from the BIPOC community. Tune in!
7. Calendar reminders to keep my anti-racist actions in check. It seems silly, but you all know I’m big into time blocking and calendar building. I wouldn’t remember anything if I didn’t have it my calendar. At the end of each month, I’ve set recurring reminders with a simple note, “What have you done to fight racism this month?” I want to reflect each month and grow, learn, and continue to help my Black community.
8. VOTE. Not just in the Presidential elections, but local elections. Exercise my right to vote! Change needs to happen at the governmental level, and we have the power to do that. I’ve set up reminds in my calendar with important voting dates. Check Rock the Vote – a very helpful resource!

Most importantly, I will raise anti-racist children. Perhaps the biggest contribution to this fight against racism and racial inequality is to raise my children to be conscious of racism, know it’s unacceptable, and above all else, appreciate, understand, and celebrate people’s differences (physically, mentally, and culturally.)

I’ve purchased more inclusive books, books that speak about equality, and we’ve been having conversations about loving all different skin colors and appreciating people from different backgrounds. Luckily, we live in Jersey City, the nation’s most ethnically diverse city, and Luca has a diverse group of friends.

When he’s a bit older, I want to involve him in serving the Black community and taking actions alongside me.

At the end of the day, parents lead by example. Toddlers especially learn by example. Just like modeling good eating habits, we should be modeling anti-racism. And that’s exactly what I plan to do, and I’m glad to have Luca and Roma to keep me accountable to be a better ally moving forward.

What are you doing to fight racism?

The post Unlearning, Learning, and Using This Knowledge Moving Forward appeared first on Inspiralized.

For 2020, I’m setting one overall intention goal and one more action-driven goal.

My intention goal

One word: quality. I want to live 2020 with a quality mindset. Quality in my professional life and quality in my personal life. In my personal life, that goes for things like my relationships with friends and family, my sex life (oh ya!), my wellness routines, my meals, and the little things like my wardrobe.

For instance, why do I keep buying cheap t-shirts that after a few months are so tattered and shrunken, I have to buy more? I want to finally put together a capsule wardrobe and go from there, which will ultimately dress me better and save me money!

As for my relationships, I want to stop trying to keep friendships alive that clearly haven’t stood the test of time and invest more of my time in my closer relationships and to nourish those. With my family, I want to spend more quality time as in doing more activities together, not just easy couch hangs and dinners.

And as for the sex life, as a parent of two small children, we found ourselves with little pockets of time when we can and when we do, we don’t necessarily make it the best it can be. #justbeinghonest. We both know our pre-kids sex life and we want to bring it back!

And then with my professional life, I want to really work on this. I want to continue to be more selective with my brand partnerships, but also really focus on those partnerships and make them more valuable for my audience and the brand itself. I want to be more thoughtful and take more time with those. And as for my content creation, I want to spend more time on really diving into what you all want and putting together content that will truly help you and your families.

All in all, I feel like I’ve been a bit lazy with my life and I want to remedy that in 2020. I want to ‘go all out.’ I’m excited!

My action driven goal

Cook more from my own cookbooks! It seems very simple and obvious, but as someone who is ‘supposed to’ be creating new content all the time, it’s hard to cook from my own cookbooks, because that’s ‘old’ content. However, what I’ve realized over the years is that you all love to see me make recipes from my cookbooks and you’re always looking for reasons to dust off my cookbooks and use my recipes in new ways – or maybe revisit a recipe you forgot about. I wrote more about this on my latest Instagram post.

For example, one of my favorite recipes in my Inspiralize Everything cookbook is my Spiralized Bell Pepper Taco Skillet, but it uses ground beef and as you all know, I’m not eating meat right now. I want to make this with quinoa, kidney beans, black beans, and reinvent it!

Every year I also set a goal to cook from more cookbooks, so I’m hoping this inspires that more, but I’m not setting it as a ‘resolution,’ because I don’t want to get too ambitious. Plus, I have hundreds of cookbook recipes of my own, and I want to dive in there. If you want to follow along, here are the links to my three cookbooks:

• Inspiralized
• Inspiralize Everything
• Inspiralized and Beyond

And those are my resolutions! Every year, I try to be kinder, more mindful, and more open-minded, so I’ll always continue that, but these goals help me focus more in 2020 on the things that will make my life and my work better!

The post My 2020 New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Inspiralized.

If you have a specific question and don’t see it answered, feel free to send me a DM on Instagram or comment on this post, and I’ll include it in the following month! Plus, this will be a great way to direct those of you who have the same questions, so the answers will be archived here on the blog!

Motherhood & Pregnancy Q&A: April 2019

Did you baby wear with Luca?

Yes! All the time. It was the only way Luca would sleep sometimes – and it was so much better to be hands free. I wore him traveling, just on walks, and even around the house. For the newborn/0-6 month stage, I love the Solly Baby wrap and then for any heavy duty travel (ie airports, long walks) I recommend the Ergobaby.

Do you and Lu have any reservations/concerns about raising a girl different than those with Luca?

Nope! Lu is a bit nervous to clean the baby’s private parts, but aside from that, we haven’t talked about it. We’re just raising them to be good, kind humans.

If Luca finishes all of one part of his meal, do you give him more of that one thing?

Yes! Read all about my philosophy on toddler feeding here.

When you weaned Luca, did he have any “withdrawal” crankiness, tugging you?

No, he did not! It was such a slow and steady gradual process, that I don’t think HE even noticed.

Any ideas for Luca’s 2nd birthday?

I’m trying to get through the birth of my daughter first, haha! No ideas at all, haven’t even thought about it. I definitely want to do something, though, especially because he now has real friends!

How does Luca fit into your work life? Is he always around with the nanny?

I wrote an entire post on this! You can read it here.

How do you keep Luca occupied when you are cooking, cleaning, getting ready?

Honestly, I used to stress about this and the more I stressed, the harder it was. I was constantly trying to entertain him while I simultaneously got ready, but now, I just kind of talk him through what I’m doing, let him interact with me in the process, and he has learned that sometimes Mommy needs to clean, cook, get ready, etc. He stopped whining at my feet (as much) and it’s much better. I also got a Learning Tower for when I’m cooking and that’s been a huge help!

Do you ever nap when Luca naps?

YES! On the weekends, I usually try to get at least 30 minutes in! I’m not always good about this, because there’s just SO much to do, especially with the new baby coming. Luckily, Lu loves to nap, so sometimes he’ll make me slow down and nap with him.

How do you manage staying in routine during the first weeks with a baby?

This is a trick question, right? What routine? Haha! Let yourself just heal, get REST, and spend all your time enjoying snuggles from that precious newborn. There’s PLENTY of time for routines later on.

How do you transition from chores to work to mommy hood and being a wife?

I’m very conscious of my time and being present. While I’m working during the day (8am to 5:30pm), I’m in work mode. During the week, when I’m with the baby (in the mornings, 6:30-8am and in the evenings, 5:30-7:30pm), I’m laser focused on spending time with him. After 7:30pm, I have a few hours with my husband, and I’m in wife mode. By dividing up my time like this, I’m able to never feel guilty about spending time on work, etc. That’s been really key for me!

What has been your favorite age with Luca?

Oh my gosh…. it’s so tough, I have loved every single age, seriously. I think the more he develops a personality, the better it gets, so I’m loving this stage right now. He’s fun to hang around! But, I don’t think it’s my favorite, because I felt that same way during the other stages. I also LOVED and miss the newborn phase (I’m crazy, I know) – he was just SO cuddly! They all have their pros and cons.

How do you get Luca dinner and everything else done and him to bed on time?

I stop work at 5pm so that when he gets back at 5:30pm with the nanny, dinner’s done and we can eat, play, and then when Lu gets home, he takes over (he usually gets home around 6:30/6:45pm) and plays with Luca for 10-15 minutes (with me too, unless I use that time to get something personally done or cleanup) and then he does the bath routine and we trade off who reads him books. He’s usually in his crib no later than 7:30pm.

How do you transition baby to bottle?

We introduced a bottle about 8 weeks into Luca’s life, because there was never a reason to give him a bottle otherwise. And he was fine, we didn’t have any transition issues. We used the paced feeding method to mimic the flow of breastfeeding.

Favorite clothing and shoe brands for Luca? How would you describe his style?

I think he’s “urban comfy,” haha! He loves to run and play and is extremely active, so I try not to put him in restrictive clothing, so he’s in sweats a lot. ZARA is my favorite brand altogether for baby clothes. For shoes, I’ve had great luck with Vans!

Reality about holding a (not so) baby boy while carrying a baby bump?

It’s exhausting! I have to be careful when I pick him up to squat instead of using my back, because I’m afraid of pulling my back or overextending! It’s a lot, but I always tell myself that women have been doing it for thousands of years, so I can handle it. Working out (especially strength training) makes me feel strong enough so that I’m not worried I’m going to hurt myself.

Hope you enjoyed the Q&A! Let me know what you think and maybe I’ll make them a monthly reoccurring post!

The post Motherhood & Pregnancy Q&A: April 2019 appeared first on Inspiralized.

Long before I became pregnant with Luca, I always used to think it was shocking when women worked out while pregnant. It looked “wrong”, like these women shouldn’t be pushing themselves in their delicate state. Then, when I became pregnant with Luca, I realized that there’s nothing delicate about pregnancy, ha! All jokes aside, our bodies are strong and are meant to carry children. My OB-GYN put it into great perspective during one of my early appointments, when Lu innocently asked, “Should she be spinning in her state?” My state meaning… pregnant. My doctor answered, “Think of the women years ago who had to run from animals in the wild. Women all over the world have been birthing children for thousands of years. Yes, it’s okay.”

My doctor did say this: if you are already an active person (you regularly workout), then there’s no reason to stop when you become pregnant. However, if you haven’t been active, it’s not a good idea to start a fitness program when you become pregnant. There are parts of your body that are weakened, because they are changing, expanding, and getting ready for birth (like your joints.)

Many of you have asked me, “do you not let your heart rate get above a certain point?” and the answer is this: I don’t wear a heart rate monitor when I workout, so no. I think all of those things cause anxiety and stress, which is worse for you and your baby than a certain peak heart rate. that’s just my opinion! some people like having rules, restrictions, and guidelines – it’s comforting and it makes them feel safe. my #1 rule for pregnancy and motherhood is: do what makes you comfortable.

My philosophy on working out while pregnant

My philosophy on working out while pregnant is this: listen to your body. If you’re doing an exercise you normally do and it doesn’t feel right or you become dizzy from exerting yourself too far, just stop and don’t continue. There are certain exercises I avoid while pregnant, because they cause my discomfort, obviously anything that requires me to lay on my tummy, like most ab work, lifting heavy weight, jumping (I’d pee myself anyway at this point), exercises on my back (the pressure is too much), and anything that requires me to bend over very far (dead lifts, for example.)

If there’s anytime to be in tune with your body and listen to it, it’s during pregnancy.

my current workout routine

Before I was pregnant, I was doing BBG (you can read my full review here, after completing the 12 week program.) I felt stronger than ever and that overlapped with my first few weeks of pregnancy, so I was happy to start at a great, strong place. I had abs! typically my workout routine usually consists of 2-3 days of strength training and 3-4 days of cardio. I aim for 5-6 days a week!

Now, it ranges week to week, but in general, I get in at least 3 cardio days and at least 1 strength training day per week. for my cardio days, I use the Peloton spin bike (we have one in our bedroom) and on the strength training days, I do a 20 minute treadmill warmup of walking uphill in intervals and then 20-25 minutes of strength training, combining upper and lower body.

When I do cardio workouts, I don’t push myself nearly as hard as I did before becoming pregnant, simply because I get out of breath. I take breaks when I need to. for example, if the instructor in the spin class says to do an interval and I’m not ready for it, I won’t push myself like I would not-pregnant. I sit in the saddle and recover a bit. I don’t go as fast or as high of a resistance, either. I do what feels most challenging in my pregnant state!

As for strength training workouts, I like to switch it up, but generally, this is what one of them looks like, in case you’re looking for inspiration:

Warmup: uphill treadmill walk, 15-20 minutes

Lower body (repeat 2-3x)

• 15 squats with 10 lbs
• 20 reverse lunges with 10 lbs
• sumo squat with 15lb kettlebell
• 20 side lunges with 10lbs

Upper body (repeat 2-3x)

• 12 bicep curls with 10 lbs
• 15 tricep dips
• 12 shoulder presses with 10 lbs
• 15 pushups (on knees!)

I’ll be able to maintain my current workout routine for the rest of my pregnancy with the exception of the spinning – at a certain point (with Luca, it was around 25-30 weeks), my belly becomes too big and it’s uncomfortable for me to sit and mainly for my lower back. I’ll replace spinning with treadmill and the strength training days will become 100% strength training with no cardio in them.

I hope this is helpful! let me know if you have any questions, I’m always happy to share my journey – all love to hear yours!

The post My current workout routine: 21 weeks pregnant appeared first on Inspiralized.

here’s a recap of all of my challenges:

• march: read for at least 30 minutes a day from a business book.
• april: drink a warm, anti-inflammatory drink once a day.
• may: take a walk outside everyday.
• june: stretch everyday for 10 minutes.
• july: floss everyday.
• august: use less paper towels by buying microfiber washcloths instead.
• september: listen to a new podcast everyday.
• october: tidy up the house before bed, to set myself up for success in the morning.
• november: eliminate added sugars from my diet.
• december: read for 30 minutes before bed every night.

many of you have been asking me if I am going to be continuing the monthly challenges. although I loved each and every one and grew a lot from them, I won’t be continuing with them. Instead, I’ll be setting one larger monthly challenge for the entire year (2019), which is to read one new book a month. now, many seasoned readers may say, “One book a month – that’s hardly a challenge!” but, as an entrepreneur and woman with a toddler and another baby on the way, finding the time to read is tough. one book a month is a huge victory for me, personally!

here are the books that I read (and loved) in 2018 (there were some books I read that I wouldn’t recommend and thus, they aren’t on this list):

• The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy
• Crushing It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
• The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
• The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
• The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

and here are some books that are currently on my reading list:

• Becoming by Michelle Obama (currently reading)
• Educated by Tara Westover
• The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

I’d love to hear what books you’ve loved or are on your reading list – send your suggestions my way!

The post Monthly challenges recap and one big yearly challenge appeared first on Inspiralized.

let’s start with a recap of the last month and then get into this month’s challenge!

november’s challenge: recap

november’s challenge was to say goodbye to desserts/sweets until Thanksgiving. I “cheated” on this challenge twice – once I stress ate a box of cookies and the other time was while on vacation in Turks & Caicos with my family and each night they put these cute little sweets on the bed at turn down service and I just HAD to have one! otherwise, I abstained from desserts/sweets up until Thanksgiving, when I had the most amazing Oreo cookie ice cream! it was delicious down to the last spoonful.

however, I don’t think I’ll be doing anymore challenges like these – I’ve worked so hard to get to a place where I can eat freely and openly and not vilify foods, and it definitely brought back some old feelings and I’ve noticed, that since Thanksgiving, I’ve been eating A LOT more sweets than usual and this is because I restricted myself for a month, got a taste, and now that’s all I think about, hence this post. it definitely helped me get back on a healthy track with sugar, but I don’t think it was necessary. I think me just making more of an effort on a daily basis instead on a set time frame is better for my overall.

december challenge

it’s the last month of the year!! I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by. I really can’t. for my last challenge of the year, I wanted to bring it back to something that I tried to do as my first challenge and failed. I want to bring it back, with a different twist. I want to go to bed 30 minutes before “bedtime” and read. it doesn’t have to be anything in particular, but it must be something that is NOT on my laptop, iPad, or iPhone. I’m talking books, magazines, etc. I have just noticed that a) when I go into bed and get out of a room with a TV, I have a more restful sleep and b) I feel more productive when I’m reading rather than scrolling through social media and watching crappy television with Lu! I’m going to try to get Lu on this challenge too, so I’ll let you know!

what will your december challenge be?

The post monthly challenges: december appeared first on Inspiralized.

Holiday Gift Guide For Her

1. Diffuser: who doesn’t need a little more zen in their life? I have this diffuser and love it. You could even gift the diffuser with a couple of essential oils to get her started.

2. Pom pom clutch: for the girl that loves to vacation or is a bit extra, this pom pom clutch is so cute!

3. Silk pillowcase: I secretly want one of these, because I feel like the culprit of many of my skin issues is my pillowcase! This is luxurious, travel friendly, and a nice treat for any lady in your life.

4. Wireless charging station: this is for the workaholic lady in your life who’s always on her phone (aka all of us!) – it’s a wireless charging station and is very chic, perfect for your desk or right by your bed.

5. Rose gold travel set: this rose gold passport and luggage tag set is perfect for that friend of yours who plans on traveling a lot in 2019.

6. Makeup light mirror: I don’t have a lamp on my makeup table (I need to fix that), so at night time, when I’m doing my makeup, I can barely see what I’m doing! This is the perfect fix and great for that friend who loves to makeup.

7. Gua sha stone: after my recovery from Bell’s Palsy, I never stopped with my gua sha massages! For the friend who never wants to age and loves beauty tricks, this is the perfect gift.

8. You are a Badass book: what a great title to gift a girlfriend, right?

9. Bath caddy: I mean, who wouldn’t want this? Every year, I put on my to-do list to “take more baths” and I think this might just motivate me!

10. Slipper socks: I’m wearing these right now, and let me tell you – they’re AMAZING. They’re also a festive wintery color. Especially great for the work-from-home friend!

11. Bath bouquet: For that friend who wants to take an Instagram bath, now she can!

12. PJ set: my favorite PJs in the whole world are LAKE pajamas, they’re so luxurious and last forever (trust me, I LIVED in mine through Luca’s spit-up stage and they’re still in great condition.)

13. Chenille scarf: it’s winter, everyone could use a new scarf.

14. Tortoise earrings: I love these earrings, and I think they’re different, a fun gift to receive for the fashionista in your life.

15. Jet lag mask: for the friend who loves everything beauty and doing masks, this one is one of the best!

16. Belly mask: for your expectant mamas out there, this mask is for your pregnant belly! It’s supposed to help with stretch mark reduction and just a nice way to pamper yourself in those 9 months.

17. Facebook portal: I really want one of these, because I FaceTime a lot with my parents so they can see Luca, and the quality isn’t great and I hate holding the phone. This seems next level!

18. Mug warmer: an amazing idea! My coffee or tea always goes cold, and it’s wasted! Not anymore!

19. iPhone printer: don’t you wish you could print out your photos and don’t want to drive to the photo store?

20. Bath bombs: these were all the rage this year! For your friend who has the time to take baths, haha.

21. Nourished Planner: for that organized person in your life, this is the best, inspirational day planner! It’s also built by friends of mine who are amazing women trying to spread more happiness.

22. Energy cleansing kit: if you’ve never saged your home, you must! This is a great starter kit. Lu and I light palo santo all the time, but this is next level.

23. Earrings: more earrings, I just couldn’t help it! How chic!

24. Lipstick holder: I love the idea of this! I don’t wear enough lipstick, but for the one in your life that does, this is such a great, thoughtful gift.

25. Kopari coconut melt: if you’ve never tried a Kopari product before, buy this for yourself! Especially in the winter, we all need a little extra love on our skin. This is it!

26. Oil pulling: my sister did oil pulling before her wedding, and I swear it made her teeth whiter! Oil pulling freshens breath and has many other benefits (apparently!)

Holiday Gift Guide for Him

1. Mini speaker: this is just really sleek and chic looking, perfect for a home office, bachelor pad, or office. Love the rose gold and black!

2. Oculus VR goggles: I think it’s safe to say that men and women alike are curious about virtual reality, and this is the first consumer product to really hit the shelves. I’ve tested it out at Facebook headquarters and it’s AWESOME. A great splurge gift for the extra special man in your life!

3. Basketball hoop: my husband has this in his office and it’s just fun, it fits over all doors, and is great for his room at home, a dorm room, or an office.

4. Cool cookbook: the men in my life who cook, don’t cook “regular” food, they like to really get into it, and Matty Matheson’s cookbook has amazing stories and unique recipe ideas. It’s just a cool cookbook.

5. Allbirds: I bought my brother-in-law these last Christmas, I think he has about 6 pairs. I bought myself a pair, too – they’re just seriously, seriously comfortable shoes.

6. Burton fleece: my husband bought this in white for our trip to Iceland and it’s his new winter staple. It’s great to hug him in it too, it’s so cozy!

7. MVMNT watch: these watches are affordable, great quality, and so good looking. They have watches for casual or formal occasions and everything in between. I love this one the most – I feel like it’s a great wear-to-work watch that also works for everyday or a date night.

8. YETI bag: I asked Lu what I should put on this list and the first thing he said was, “a YETI bag!” For the guy who loves to travel with his drinks, tailgate, etc – this is such a great gift.

9. Gary Vee wine club: Lu and I are members of this wine club and it’s THE BEST. Gary Vee has years and years of experience in wine, is such a great wine personality, and dishes out great business advice. I love his descriptions of wines, the wines he picks have become some of my favorites! He’s the reason I love Oregon wine the most now!

10. Tic tac toe set: I feel like this is a great classy gift for the man who works in an office, especially a cool startup environment. Who wouldn’t love to have this on their desk?

11. Comfy came sweats: Lu wears the same dang sweats everyday, and I’m always looking for cooler sweats for him that he can step outside in and not look like a schlump. These are them!

Happy holidays!

The post Holiday Gift Guides For Him and For Her appeared first on Inspiralized.

let’s start with a recap of the last month and then get into this month’s challenge!

october’s challenge: recap

october’s challenge was to set myself up for success in the morning by keeping the living space (living room, kitchen area, etc) clean and ready for a new day. that meant doing all the dishes, clearing the clutter, putting away Luca’s toys, etc. I think last month’s challenge may have been my absolute favorite (or tied with the daily walks one.) every night (I think I missed only 2-3 nights), I cleaned the kitchen, put away all the dishes, and tidied everything up. I woke up and didn’t have to spend all my time cleaning – I could spend more time getting ready myself (and not look like a hot mess!) and spend more time with Luca, playing, before the work day started.

and every night, I’d light my favorite pumpkin spice scented candle and let it burn that evening in the kitchen so I’d wake up with those smells from the night before. I’m so happy I set this challenge, and I definitely intend on continuing this nightly ritual!

november challenge

november is a tough month to set a challenge up, because I’m traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday! I also was traveling the first weekend in November (I went to Iceland!), BUT I’ve decided to set this challenge with the exclusion of Thanksgiving day: NO SWEETS. I’ve been wanting to do a dessert free month for a long time (my night time chocolate addiction is REAL), and I realized that after I got back from Iceland, I was in a total sugar coma and haven’t had any dessert since then (so, all this week!), so it’s the perfect time to start this challenge.

of course, on Thanksgiving, it’s all about #allthepies, but for everyday until then after then in the month of November, I’m saying NO to dessert. I’ve noticed a lethargic feeling at night and in the morning because of all the sugar, and it’s time to quit while I’m ahead, because December is one of those months where I just HAVE to indulge (peppermint chocolate bark, hello! it’s a must!) so I’m taking a break and saying no to sweets this month!

what will your november challenge be?

The post monthly challenges: november appeared first on Inspiralized.